By Brian Wachter
When you think about discipling someone or sharing your faith, what is your first thought? For many, it’s teaching, explaining, or persuading. Yet one of the most powerful tools God has given us is not having all the answers—it’s asking good questions.
Why Questions Matter
Jesus used questions in His ministry. “Who do you say that I am? (Matt 16:15) It is one of His most famous questions, and also one of the most penetrating. Rather than simply supplying information, Jesus drew people out, inviting them to wrestle with truth in a personal way. Questions honour people as image-bearers who can think, reflect, and respond. Questions move a conversation from a lecture to a conversation, from seeking information to seeking transformation.
When discipling others, questions help us discover where someone truly is in their walk with God. Questions reveal needs, hopes, doubts, hidden areas, and areas of growth that might never surface if we only spoke at them. In sharing the gospel, questions can disarm defences and open doors. Instead of arguments, which can feel like pressure, asking open-ended questions creates space for curiosity and genuine reflection.
Two of the best open-ended questions to ask: How and Why.
Why Questions Are Effective
Good questions do three things:
- They invite ownership. When someone answers a question, they’re not just listening—they’re processing and articulating their own thoughts in response. That’s far more powerful than passively absorbing a lecture.
- They build a relationship. Thoughtful questions convey genuine interest: I want to get to know you. I care about your story. That builds trust, which is the soil where discipleship flourishes.
- They uncover the heart. Proverbs 20:5 says, “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Questions are the bucket we lower into the well of another person’s heart.
Learning to Ask Better Questions
Not all questions are equal. The goal is not to interrogate or trap, but to serve and to guide. The ‘Questions to Help People Grow’ resource (included with this article) reminds us that questions should draw someone closer to Christ, not make them feel small.
The ‘Three Questions Worksheet’ (also included) is a simple tool to help disciplemakers think through where they are—or another person is—in their walk with God, where God might want to take them, and what the next step could be.
These types of questions keep us prayerful, intentional, and focused on God’s work rather than our own agendas. They also help us to take the next steps in our walk with God.
Putting It into Practice
Next time you meet with a friend or someone you’re investing your life in, try starting with a question instead of advice. Ask, “What has God been teaching you lately?” or “What feels hardest about following Jesus right now?” In a conversation with a non-believing friend, you might ask, “What do you think gives people hope when life feels broken?” Then listen well, and trust God to work through your conversation. You can even ask God to give you ideas for questions to ask.
Discipleship and sharing faith are not about having perfect answers, but about walking with others toward Jesus. And one of the most powerful ways we can do that is by asking questions that open hearts, minds, and lives to His truth.
Bible Study: Learning from the Questions of Jesus
When we think about Jesus’ ministry, we often remember His miracles, parables, and bold declarations. But did you know Jesus actually asked more questions than He answered? In fact, the Gospels record 305 questions he asked.
Why would the all-knowing Son of God ask so many questions? Because Jesus used questions to draw people into discovery.
1. Questions that Stir Curiosity
Many of Jesus’ questions began with “how” or “why”: “Why do you doubt?” (Matt. 14:31), “Why are you thinking these things?” (Mark 2:8). Even though He already knew the answers, Jesus invited His listeners to explore the reasons behind their thoughts and fears. His questions turned passive hearers into active participants.
Reflection: When has a simple “why” question helped you discover something deeper about your own faith?
2. Questions that Go Beneath the Surface
Jesus rarely asked yes-or-no questions. Instead, He asked open-ended ones that required thought: “What do you want?” (John 1:38) or “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15). These questions cut through surface-level answers and led people to wrestle with truth personally.
Reflection: If Jesus asked you today, “Who do you say I am?”, how would you answer?
3. Questions that Challenge the Heart
Some of Jesus’ most powerful questions confronted people’s motives: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Matthew 16:26). These questions weren’t meant to shame but to awaken people to reality. They pushed His listeners toward decision and transformation.
Reflection: What question from Jesus challenges you most right now?
4. Questions that Invite Relationship
When Peter denied Him, Jesus didn’t deliver a lecture. Instead, He asked three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15–17). With each question, Jesus drew Peter’s heart back to Him. Jesus’ questions restored their relationship and renewed Peter’s mission.
Reflection: How might God be using questions to draw you back into deeper love and trust with Him?
Why This Matters for Us
Jesus shows us that discipleship is not about always having the right answers, but about walking with others in the discovery of truth. Good questions spark curiosity, invite honesty, challenge assumptions, and draw people closer to Him. As we learn to ask questions like Jesus, we too can help people uncover what God is doing in their lives.
Discussion Questions for personal or small group use:
- Which of Jesus’ questions speaks most deeply to you right now? Why?
- How could you use questions, rather than quick answers, in your conversations with friends or those you disciple?
- What one question could you ask this week to open a meaningful spiritual conversation?